Stephanie Barenz teaches early childhood art at an international school in Shanghai. She shifted from teaching at the university level a few years ago, so we dig into how that change impacted her art making and her teaching. Stephanie also shares great advice for moving forward with your art career during this time while giving yourself grace.  I went to grad school with Stephanie, but had lost touch a bit, so it was amazing to hear about her travels, how her career has shifted, and how her artwork is evolving.


As an art teacher slash artist based in China, Stephanie has some insight on our current COVID-19 situation. Her school began social distancing and online teaching back in January. She shares how that shift affected her and some tips and encouragement for art teachers still in the beginning stages of distance learning.


Shanghai-based artist Stephanie Barenz, creates mixed media works inspired by the layered experience of moving between point A and point B. Her work merges photography, printmaking, painting and collage.


Barenz received her MFA from Washington University in St. Louis. Before living in China, she taught at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and ran her own studio + gallery in Milwaukee, WI. She completed residencies at the Art Students League of New York, Chicago Printmakers’ Collaborative and the Pfister Hotel in Wisconsin. Selected exhibitions include the Art Canton Contemporary Art Fair in Guangzhou, Solonia Art Center in Suzhou, Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin Artist Biennial at the Museum of Wisconsin Art, John Michael Kohler Art Center, and the Walker’s Point Center for the Arts in Milwaukee. Barenz has taught art internationally and has presented on the topic of “Collaboration in Art Education” at conferences in Hong Kong and Taipei.


Her process is soooo interesting to me! She puts her work through an incredible push and pull between digital and physical processes involving layering painting, prints, photos, and collage. 


I know I will be getting organized to follow Stephanie’s lead in applying to the directories and art advisors she mentioned. Links to these are below. I also love her drawing prompts project with her students, using Seesaw’s built-in drawing option with the intention of printing the drawings for a collaborative mural later on.


Blog post with images


StephanieBarenz.com


@stephaniebarenz


Artwork Archive: https://www.artworkarchive.com/ and https://www.artworkarchive.com/call-for-entry


Art of Education (AOE)


The Year of Less - A book by Cait Flanders


Stephanie's Generous List of Directories & Art Advisors:


Art in Embassies


Eaton Fine Art


Nine Dot Arts' DotFolio


Boston Art


Artists Circle


Fresh Paint


Amazing Artists She Mentioned (who also got their MFA's at WUSTL):


Lawrence Keaty


Aaron Bos-Wahl

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